Playlists, links, background information, commentary and more – to accompany the Podwireless internet radio show, presented by Ian A Anderson.
You can find the podcast itself on Mixcloud at mixcloud.com/frootsradio or on Podomatic at froots.podomatic.com/ – it can be downloaded from the latter.

Fab Facts, Info And FAQ

Podwireless is an expanded version of fRoots Radio, a monthly folk, roots,
‘world music’ (though I try not to use that term any more) and loosely
connected music podcast that began in 2002 as a service for the readers of fRootsmagazine (RIP).

Before
that I’d done many years on ‘conventional’ radio, starting on local radio in
Surrey in the early 1980s, presenting various series for BBC Radio 2, Capital
Radio and the original World Routes on Jazz FM, depped for Andy Kershaw
on BBC Radio 1, and had a 12 year stint presenting Folk Routes on the BBC World Service. You can read more about that
and find some links to ancient programmes delivered in my scarily youthful
voice at https://www.ianaanderson.com/broadcast

The
aim of pretty much everything I’ve ever done in broadcasting has been to give
exposure to music that enthuses me, much of which gets very little other chance
for airplay. I try not to talk too much, and have always provided playlists to
help listeners track down records they’d like to buy. In my BBC World Service
days I used to get a bonkers mailbag from all over the planet, sometimes – I
was told – more than the pop/rock music request show got. Virtually all of it
was enquiries to ID something I’d played and give a source for it. That’s all
so much easier since they invented the interweb, and what this blog is for.

Q: Podwireless seems to be free. How is it funded?

A: It’s a labour of love and public service netcasting which runs entirely on donations of spare change from supporters – see the Tip Jar link at the top of the column on the right – suitable CDs to play (see below), teacakes and coffee.

If you’re really not sure if the music you make is suitable, you can
email me at podwireless@outlook.com – but why not just give a programme a
listen so you can judge for yourself?! And it shouldn’t need saying, but I do
give special attention to small independent labels.

Please note that I generally only have time to include new releases
from CD copies, preferably the finished copy with full notes and packaging. As mentioned above, this
podcast is a labour of love in the spirit of public service netcasting: sorry,
but other than in really special circumstances I can’t be doing with the extra faff of downloading and filing (and easily losing)
digital tracks – and I can't play vinyl.

Please always include the best web link to the release, artist or
label so that I can include one of those in the playlists. And all I really
need is a simple biography – what our colonial cousins call a “one sheet”, not reams
of reviews. Save a tree!

Q: Clearance and permissions for playing?

A: By sending a CD to Podwireless, it is assumed that you are automatically granting permission for one or more tracks to be played for promotional purposes. Our platform Mixcloud state that they pay royalties though how they calculate what, to who and how is not clear. Let's just assume that you're happy to get a promotional play or two. After all, it's not like Sp*tify streams will buy you any hot dinners!

Q: Before I send you my CD, what sort of music will you actually play?

A: As a simple
guide, music, however ancient or modern, that has some clear roots in a
tradition. Neither the instruments or level of technology employed nor an
artist’s nationality are particularly relevant. For example, neither the act of
playing an acoustic instrument or singing in a language other than English have
a major significance either way. It ain’t how you do it, it’s what you do!

Q: I’m an acoustic singer songwriter. That’s surely OK then?

A: Possibly not,
unless your music is strongly influenced by a tradition. The musik biz
categorises anybody with an acoustic guitar who writes their own songs as
‘folk’. Which is fine, call it whatever you like, but Podwireless may
not have space for it.

Q: Hey dude, I do Americana? Do you play that?

A: A little, but with
so much great local roots music to cover from around a world that is fighting
back against global cultural imperialism, plus the explosion in self-published
CDs in the wealthy nations, I simply can’t shoehorn everything in. I play what
you could call local, regional or traditional American musics: country blues,
Cajun, conjunto, old-time, Appalachian, musics of established immigrant
communities, but only music made by current writers if they are clearly rooted
in such traditions. I don’t really have space for music that has no sense of
roots, place or community: for example singer/songwriters who are essentially
just playing acoustic rock music with a country twang, mainstream Nashville
country, blues rock, amorphous music that could come from anywhere. And spare me
the stuff about dolphins . . . Sorry!

Q: Does my CD need UK distribution for you to include
it?

A: No. Podwireless
is listened to worldwide and the chances are that your CD can be bought somewhere in
the world over the interweb. Getting a play in Podwireless might even help
gain UK distribution and open the doors to becoming known here.

But please note if you are sending CDs from abroad, please put the value
at which you are declaring them for customs as basic manufacturing cost, e.g. from
USA two dollars per CD, not the full retail price. Otherwise it will incur a
customs charge and I won’t be able to accept the item from the post office. You
should also write on the outside of the package that it is a free promotional
sample.

Q: Bribery? Payola?

A: Nah. Not even an all-expenses paid sweeney to the South Pacific (I've sworn off flying anyway). Not even teacakes…

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About Me

Podwireless was first established in 2002 as fRoots Radio and is a regular monthly web radio show, based around the world of folk, roots and unpop music – most of which you won’t hear on mainstream radio. It's presented by veteran broadcaster (BBC World Service, BBC Radio 2, 1, Jazz FM, Capital etc), musician and writer Ian A. Anderson (no, not that one!)